G7, EU slammed over poll smears

The central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government hit back at the European Union and G7 on May 10 for smearing Hong Kong’s just-concluded chief executive election, its new electoral system, and the Chinese government’s policy for the SAR.

Their remarks came after G7 foreign ministers and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy on May 9 expressed “grave concerns over the selection process for the Chief Executive in Hong Kong”, calling it “part of a continued assault on political pluralism and fundamental freedoms”.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on May 10 that the finger-pointing of these politicians laid bare their double standards and hypocrisy, as well as their attempt to destabilize the HKSAR and contain China.

Zhao said the HKSAR is part of China and that the kind of electoral system and path of democracy the HKSAR is pursuing is purely China’s internal affair.